“The loss of life, including the life of those who played no part in gang related feuds, is intolerable.

“We will not let the safety and good name of our capital city be dragged down by the violence and thuggery of these gangs.

“However long it takes, I have assured An Garda Síochána that they have the full support of the government in their efforts to disrupt gang-related crime and they will continue to access all resources necessary, including extensive overtime, to support them in delivering concentrated visible policing measures to tackle gang-related crime.”

She was joined by Enda Kenny for a meeting with top cops about tackling ongoing violence.

The minister added: “There is absolutely no question of any reduction in the resources or overtime being made available to gardaí to counteract gang-related crime.

“Recent appalling events should not cause us to lose sight of the fact that An Garda Síochána have in the past successfully faced-down gangs who believed they were above the law.

“Nor should we underestimate the difficulties they face in counteracting the activities of members of gangs determined to kill each other in a cycle of vicious and mindless violence.

“But, however long it takes, and whatever resources are necessary, the State will take all measures open to it to bear down on the deadly activities of gangs.”